Method and apparatus for packing a parachute into a projectile

ABSTRACT

A parachute is packed into a tubular recess within a projectile casing by urging said parachute, along with a retaining member, through a tubular channel communicating with said recess. The retaining member includes resilient detents which are adapted to engage an abutment located adjacent the upper end of the tubular recess, whereby said retaining member is automatically latched into place when the parachute has been fully compressed into said recess and retains the parachute within the recess.

United States Patent [1 1 Simmons et a1.

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING A PARACHUTE INTO A PROJECTILE [76]Inventors: Bjiirn Herman Olof Simmons, Hertig Carls Alle 38; KarlIngemar Wenzel Johansson, Viaduktgatan 19, both of Kariskoga, Sweden[22] Filed: May 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 258,169

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 24, 1971 Sweden 8233/71 [52]US. Cl 244/138 R, 244/148, 244/149 [51] Int. Cl B64d 17/44, B64d 17/46[58] Field of Search 244/138, 147, 148,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,737,359 3/1956 Brown244/149 [451 Sept. 25, 1973 3,061,249 10/1962 Chipperfield 244/138 RPrimary Examiner-Mi1ton Buchler Assistant ExaminerCarl A. RutledgeAttorney-Wil1iam D. Hall et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A parachute is packed into a tubular recess within aprojectile casing by urging said parachute, along with a retainingmember, through a tubular channel communicating with said recess. Theretaining member includes resilient detents which are adapted to engagean abutment located adjacent the upper end of the tubular recess,whereby said retaining member is automatically latched into place whenthe parachute has been fully compressed into said recess and retains theparachute within the recess.

12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures The present invention relates to a method,and to a device suitable for carrying out the method, of packing aparachute into a first space allotted to the parachute and located in acarrier taking the form of a projectile, rocket or the like, where theparachute when being packed encloses a quantity of air which causes itsvolume to exceed the volume of the space. The first space can beincreased by a second space, formed e.g. by means of a tubular unitwhich can be attached to one end of the 1 carrier, the parachute withthe enclosed quantity of air then first being inserted into said twospaces and thereafter, by means of a pressing tool, being compressedinto place in the first space. The expression parachute" here alsoincludes a casing which as a rule encloses the parachute.

In all ammunition, it is a desire to be able to allot as great a portionas possible of the insideof the carrier in question to the payload whichis to be carried. This means that ,if the carrier carries a charge in aparachute, the space for the parachute should be as small as possible.This in turn has involved problems since the parachute, before beingpacked, encloses a quan tity of air which is difficult to eliminate andwhich makes its volume substantially greater than the volume of thespace allotted to it. For the purpose of eliminating the enclosedquantity of air, a pressing tool is customarily used, which is soarranged that when the parachute is being compressed it will permit airto escape during the course of the compression. However, it is difficultto eliminate all of the air in the parachute in this way in a shorttime, and anyremaining air will cause the parachute to expand assoon asthe pressing tool is removed, the size and speed of the expansion beingdirectly dependent upon the time during which the parachute has beenkept compressed.

Consequently, it has hitherto been necessary to allow the pressing toolto actuate the parachute for a time of not less than 2 hours, and inspite of this the expansion of the parachute has taken place so rapidlyand has been of such an extent that, only by acting extremely rapidly,has it been possible to insert an innerpart into the carrier to retainthe parachute in its space.

The present invention parking a method and a device which reduces theaforementioned parking, time of approx. 2 hours to the time it takes forthe pressing tool to compress the parachute in its allotted space, i.e.only a few seconds. Further, the problem of rapidly inserting a part toretain the parachute in place is eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The feature that can mainly be considered tocharacterize a method according to the invention is that, before thecompression of the parachute, a part which can be inserted into thesecond space and which can be secured to a unit in the carrier ispositioned between the parachute and the pressing tool; and movement ofblocking members located on the part and/or on the unit is initiatedwhen the part, during the compression, reaches a position where theparachute is fully pressed into its allotted first space. The parachuteis accordingly retained in the first space when the pressing tool isremoved. I

A device for carrying out said method is characterized by a part whichcan be inserted in the second space and which can be secured to a unitin the carrier, the part being placed between the parachuteand thepressing tool before the compression of the parachute. The part, inorder to be secured in the unit, is arranged to initiate movement ofblocking members located on the part and/or on the unit when, during thecompression, the part reaches a position where the parachute is pressedinto the first space so that the secured part then retains the parachutein its first space when the pressing tool has been removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of a device whichutilizes the method of the present invention will now be described withreference to the attached drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical view incross-section of a device according to the invention and an associatedcarrier, and

FIG. 2 shows in perspective an embodiment of the device in question.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, a casing of acarrier in the form of a projectile is designated 1. The projectile isdesigned to carry a payload in the form of a charge 2 of some kind, e.g.a flare or a smoke charge. At one end of the charge, ad-

. jacent one of its surfaces 2a, a parachute 3 is connected, whichparachute in the example of the embodiment is enclosed in a casing madeof a suitable textile material. In the projectile the parachute isenclosed in supporting parts 4 containing the parachute. Thesesupporting parts together form a tubular cylindrical member which issplit in its longitudinal direction, which is also the longitudinaldirection of the carrier. One of the ends of the supporting parts 4 isprovided with cleats or flange-formed edges 4a, turned inwards, whichengage in corresponding recesses in the charge 2. Said cleats or edgesare kept pressed into the recesses by means of a container 5 whichencloses the charge from the end surface 2b of the charge remote fromthe parachute 3 and over the envelope surface of the charge. The charge,supporting parts and container will thus form a unit located inside thecarrier. The charge is also provided with ignition charges 6. Further,the projectile is set up in a rack or holder 7 which permits thepressing tool 8 to be utilized for compressing the parachute 3.

A first space, allotted for storage of parachute 3, is located betweenthe end surface 20 of the charge and recesses 4b in the supporting parts4. This space can be increased by a second space, which in the exampleof the embodiment can be considered to consist of the remaining spaceinside the supporting parts, i.e. the space between the ends 4c of theseparts and said recesses 4b, as well as the space in a tubularcylindrical unit 9 which can be attached to one end of the projectile bybeing placed on same. Said first and second spaces are then assumed tohave such a volume together that there will be room for the parachutewith the quantity of air enclosed in it. Before the compression of theparachute, a part 10 which can be secured to a unit (the supportingparts 4) contained in the carrier, and which can be inserted into thesecond space, is. positioned between the pressing tool 8 and parachute3. The part 10 is discformed and supports resiliently movable detentele- 'ments not shown in FIG. 1 in the form of balls, springs (e.g.expanding springs), cleats etc. which can spring in and out, comprisingblocking or latching members which are intended to coact with therecesses 4b so that the part can automatically be secured to thesupporting parts 4. The movable latching or detent elements in part 10are not shown in the FIG. 1 because they are pressed in by the limitingsurfaces of the second space. At its free end, the cylindrical unit 9has chamfers 9a, to facilitate the insertion of the part 10 in thesecond space.

When the tool 8 is pressed downwards, in the direction of the arrow,compression of the parachute 3 takes place. When the part 10 has reacheda position where the parachute is fully pressed into the first space,said latching elements spring out into the recesses 4b, after which thepart 10 will retain the parachute in its space when the pressing tool 8is removed. The part 10 and the pressing tool 8 are provided withchannels or are dimensioned in such a way in relation to the spaces thatthe air enclosed in the parachute is allowed to pass through. In orderto prevent the textile material from expanding into the recesses 4b andbeing damaged by the blocking members during the compression of theparachute, a cup-shaped unit 11 is positioned between the part 10 andthe parachute, which unit 11 has .an edge 12 which can penetrate betweenthe inner surface of the assembled parts 4 and the parachute. The edge12 can be provided with a chamfer that facilitates the penetration. Theunit 11 need not have the form of a cup, and the edge 12, for instanceas an alternative, can be located on the part 10.

In the example ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the space between theends 4c of the supporting parts and the recesses 4b of the same parts isutilized for a brake parachute, and the part 10 can be utilized as afastening member for said brake parachute, whereby a simple solution isobtained for both of these functions.

The part 10 can then also be provided with a ball bearing, not shown,placed in the center of the part to which the brake parachute can befastened. The brake parachute can be inserted in the corresponding wayas the parachute 3 and can be retained in place by a part correspondingto the part 10 which, as in the case of the fastening members for thisadditional part, is not shown in the figures.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of detent members in the part 10 takingthe form of peripherally disposed balls 13 which can spring in and out.

The method of packing the parachute in the embodiment according to FIG.1 takes place in such a way that a first space alloted to a parachute 3is increased by a second space which is achieved with the aid of thecylindrical part 9. The parachute 3 with an enclosed quantity of air ispacked by hand into the first and second spaces, after which a part 10which can be secured to a unit (the supporting parts 4) in the carrierand which can be inserted into the second space, is positioned betweenthe parachute 3 and a pressing tool 8. Thereafter the pressing tool isactuated, and compression of the parachute takes place until the part 10has reached a position in which the blocking members on the part 10and/or on the unit are actuated to secure the part 10 in positionrelative to the supporting parts 4 with the parachute being fullypressed into the first space. The parachute is thereafter retained inposition by the part 10 when the pressing tool is removed. The methoddescribed can appropriately also include a step in which a cup-shapedmember, having an edge that can be inserted between the inside of theunit and the parachute, is applied before the compression of the part 10and the parachute.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above as examples,but can also be subject to modifications within the scope of thefollowing claims. Thus, the movable elements or blocking members can beplaced in the unit 4 and the cooperating recesses can be placed in thepart 10. The unit in the carrier, to which the part 10 is to befastened, can be varied substantially as regards its construction,without influencing the concept of the invention. Further, in certainconnections itis possible to omit the tubular unit 9 during the packingoperation, e.g. when it is a question of packing many parachutes in acarrier part where the spaces for the other parachutes can be utilizedas the second space. Further, the construction of the tubularcylindrical unit 9 can be changed substantially. The invention can alsobe utilized in carriers provided with only one parachute.

We claim:

1. The method of packing a parachute into an allotted first space withina projectile, which first space is in direct communication with a secondspace adjacent thereto, comprising the steps of inserting said parachuteinto at least said second space, placing a retaining member adjacentsaid parachute at a position in said second space remote from said firstspace and located between said parachute and a pressing tool, movingsaid pressing tool into forcible engagement with said retaining memberto move said retaining member toward, and to compress said parachuteinto, said first space, latching said retaining member to an interiorportion of said projectile at a position between said first and secondspaces immediately after said parachute has been fully compressed intosaid first space, and thereafter disengaging said pressing tool fromsaid retaining member and withdrawing said pressing tool from saidsecond space to cause said retaining member alone to hold said parachutein its compressed condition entirely within said first space.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first space comprises a firstrecess within the projectile casing, said second space comprising atubular channel open at both of its ends and communicating at its lowerend with the upper end of said recess, said retaining member andpressing tool being initially located adjacent the upper end of saidtubular channel and said member being moved, by movement of saidpressing tool through said tubular channel to a position adjacent theupper end of said recess.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the two elements, constitutingrespectively the interior wall of said projectile casing and the saidretaining member, includes a resiliently movable latching element, andthe other of said two elements includes a structure adapted to engagewith said latching element, said latching step comprising the step ofeffecting relative motion between said elements until said latchingelement and said structure automatically engage one another.

4. The method of claim 3 including the step of positioning an element,having a depending edge separating said parachute from the interior wallof said casing, over one end of said parachute between said parachuteand said retaining member prior to moving said pressing tool intoengagement with said retaining member,

said depending edge being moved through said tubular channel along withsaid retaining member to prevent said parachute from impeding saidlatching step.

5. The method of claim 3 including the step of removably placing atubular element on one end of said projectile casing to form said secondspace.

6. A parachute packing device for use with a projectile casing having anopen-ended interior tubular recess adapted to receive a parachute,comprising means defining an open-ended tubular channel directlyadjacent to and colinear with said tubular recess, first latching meanspositioned between the adjacent ends of said recess and channel, aparachute located in said tubular channel, a retaining member disposedadjacent said parachute at a position remote from said tubular recess,said retaining member including second latching means engageable withsaid first latching means, said retaining member and parachute beingmovable through said tubular channel toward said interior tubular recessuntil said first and second latching means engage one another to causesaid retaining member to hold said parachute compressed entirely withinsaid tubular recess.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein one of said first and second latchingmeans comprises a plurality of resiliently movable detents, and theother of said latching means comprises a surface adapted to engage saiddetents.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said retaining element is disk-shaped,said detents comprising a plurality of balls disposed about theperiphery of said diskshaped element.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein said projectile casing contains acharge disposed adjacent one end of said tubular recess at a positionremote from said tubular channel, the interior walls of said tubularrecess being defined by a longitudinally split tubular element having aportion thereof engaged into said charge.

10. The device of claim 6 including a separator member disposed betweensaid parachute and retaining member and having a depending edgesurrounding said parachute between said parachute and the interior wallsof said tubular channel, said separator member being movable throughsaid tubular channel, along with said retaining member and parachute, toa position wherein said depending edge is disposed between saidparachute and the interior walls of said tubular recess, whereby saidseparator assures proper engagement between said first and secondlatching member without interference by said parachute.

11. The device of claim 6 including a further parachute attached to saidretaining member for storage within said tubular channel after saidfirst-mentioned parachute has been compressed into said tubular recess.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein said means defining said tubularchannel comprises a tubular element adapted to removably engage one endof said projectile casing.

1. The method of packing a parachute into an allotted first space withina projectile, which first space is in direct communication with a secondspace adjacent thereto, comprising the steps of inserting said parachuteinto at least said second space, placing a retaining member adjacentsaid parachute at a position in said second space remote from said firstspace and located between said parachute and a pressing tool, movingsaid pressing tool into forcible engagement with said retaining memberto move said retaining member toward, and to compress said parachuteinto, said first space, latching said retaining member to an interiorportion of said projectile at a position between said first and secondspaces immediately after said parachute has been fully compressed intosaid first space, and thereafter disengaging said pressing tool fromsaid retaining member and withdrawing said pressing tool from saidsecond space to cause said retaining member alone to hold said parachutein its compressed condition entirely within said first space.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said first space comprises a first recesswithin the projectile casing, said second space comprising a tubularchannel open at both of its ends and communicating at its lower end withthe upper end of said recess, said retaining member and pressing toolbeing initially located adjacent the upper end of said tubular channeland said member being moved, by movement of said pressing tool, throughsaid tubular channel to a position adjacent the upper end of saidrecess.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the two elements,constituting respectively the interior wall of said projectile casingand the said retaining member, includes a resiliently movable latchingelement, and the other of said two elements includes a structure adaptedto engage with said latching element, said latching step comprising thestep of effecting relative motion between said elements until saidlatching element and said structure automatically engage one another. 4.The method of claim 3 including the step of positioning an element,having a depending edge separating said parachute from the interior wallof said casing, over one end of said parachute between said parachuteand said retaining member prior to moving said pressing tool intoengagement with said retaining member, said depending edge being movedthrough said tubular channel along with said retaining member to preventsaid parachute from impeding said latching step.
 5. The method of claim3 including the step of removably placing a tubular element on one endof said projectile casing to form said second space.
 6. A parachutepacking device for use with a projectile casing having an open-endedinterior tubular recess adapted to receive a parachute, comprising meansdefining an open-ended tubular channel directly adjacent to and colinearwith said tubular recess, first latching means positioned between theadjacent ends of said recess and channel, a parachute located in saidtubular channel, a retaining member disposed adjacent said parachute ata position remote from said tubular recess, said retaining memberincluding second latching means engageable with said first latchingmeans, said retaining member and parachute being movable through saidtubular channel toward said interior tubular recess until said first andsecond latching means engage one another to cause said retaining memberto hold said parachute compressed entirely within said tubular recess.7. The device of claim 6 wherein one of said first anD second latchingmeans comprises a plurality of resiliently movable detents, and theother of said latching means comprises a surface adapted to engage saiddetents.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said retaining element isdisk-shaped, said detents comprising a plurality of balls disposed aboutthe periphery of said disk-shaped element.
 9. The device of claim 6wherein said projectile casing contains a charge disposed adjacent oneend of said tubular recess at a position remote from said tubularchannel, the interior walls of said tubular recess being defined by alongitudinally split tubular element having a portion thereof engagedinto said charge.
 10. The device of claim 6 including a separator memberdisposed between said parachute and retaining member and having adepending edge surrounding said parachute between said parachute and theinterior walls of said tubular channel, said separator member beingmovable through said tubular channel, along with said retaining memberand parachute, to a position wherein said depending edge is disposedbetween said parachute and the interior walls of said tubular recess,whereby said separator assures proper engagement between said first andsecond latching member without interference by said parachute.
 11. Thedevice of claim 6 including a further parachute attached to saidretaining member for storage within said tubular channel after saidfirst-mentioned parachute has been compressed into said tubular recess.12. The device of claim 6 wherein said means defining said tubularchannel comprises a tubular element adapted to removably engage one endof said projectile casing.